Add-on Accessories To Enhance Your Car
There are many add-on devices and gizmos for cars that can provide features to
make your ride better. There are accessories that will give you music that is
more to your liking. A gps with maps can display the route to take to your
chosen destination. A heated mug will keep coffee hot as long as the car is
running. There are other useful functions and nice effects that add-on
accessories can provide. Many car accessories are low enough in price so that
they may be well worth installing. This article concentrates on the lower
priced accessories. Most are under $50.
Here's the list with some information and comments about each:
>> Map reading light- These are available with incandescent bulbs, flourescent
tubes or leds (light emitting diodes). The flourescents and leds use less
power and so are slowest to drain batteries. Led bulbs last the longest,
flourescents next, and incandescents generally burn out first. Incandescents
usually are priced lowest. Options include a power cord that plugs into the
cigarette lighter socket or two wires that get connected into the vehicle's
wiring. Some map reading lights mount with double sided tape, some clip on,
some are supported by the cigarette lighter plug/socket, some use velcro. Some
have swivel bases to aim the light, some have flexible stems, and some are
fixed.
You might find these at larger auto parts stores, large department stores,
electronics stores or online.
Example models:
CarMate NZ181 ZAX LED Interior Map Light. Has plug to get power from cigarette
lighter jack. Available at www.eautoworks.com for about $25.
Touring R Series LED Shot Light- With swivel for aiming, two wire connection
to vehicle's power. Available at www.eautoworks.com, www.xtremewhite.com for
about $20.
Some online sources are:
www.eautoworks.com
www.xtremewhite.com
>> 12 volt heated mug- A mug with a plug for getting power from the cigarette
lighter socket. It keeps a liquid such as coffee hot for as long as the
vehicle is running. Some models have a thermostat to set the temperature.
Example models:
Wagan Tech Heated Travel Mug about $30
NexxTech™ Travel Mug with Thermal Control about $20
Available online at:
www.autoanything.com
www.circuitcity.com
>> Cooler/warmer- These give the choice of keeping food or beverage hot or
cold. Some are sized to hold a can of soda or a mug of coffee, larger units
might hold a six pack or more.
Example models:
Wagan Car Cooler/Warmer about $75
Koolatron 8 quart Food Cooler/Warmer about $50
Vector 6-can Portable Food Cooler & Warmer Chest about $50
Available online at:
www.autoanything.com
www.jcwhitney.com
>> Cell phone charger- Plugs into the cigarette lighter socket to power or
charge your cell phone.
Example models:
Custom Accessories Deluxe Power Cord Charger about $20
Custom Accessories Power Cord Charger about $10
Radio Shack 273-1288 Car Power Adapter for Hitachi SH-P300 Wireless Phone
about $30
Quick Cell 3900 Car Charger Nokia about $15
Available online at:
www.carlovershop.com
www.radioshack.com
www.advanceautoparts.com
>> 12 volt coolers-
These range in size to hold 2 soda cans up to full size refrigerators for
recreational vehicles.
Example models:
VDP Road Chill 2-pack Cooler about $30
Available online at:
www.jcwhitney.com
>> Multipurpose lights- Can be incandescent, flourescent or led. They might
plug into the cigarette lighter socket, might be wired directly into the car's
power circuits, or be battery operated and portable. If used while the vehicle
is not running, a consideration may be that led models will drain the battery
the least (but in general produce less light).
Example models:
Wolo FL4 Battery-operated Fluorescent Light 4 Watt about $10
Wolo FL95 12 volt flourescent
Bonatrade International 6-Watt Single Tube 12V Fluorescent Light about $15
Custom Accessories 10716 Power Lite: Magnet Mount about $10
Custom Accessories 76665 Utility Light 12v at www.acehardware.com about $3
Type S Accessories LM104166 Dash - Map Light about $20
Voltec Industries 0800255 Trouble Light: 12 Volt about $4
Alert HC20 Halogen Worklight 12v about $20
Available online at:
www.carlovershop.com
www.jcwhitney.com
www.circuitcity.com
www.advanceautoparts.com
www.acehardware.com
>> Compass- Some are magnetic, mechanical; some are battery powered with
digital displays, can be lighted to read at night, and/or have additional
features such as time, date, and/or temperature.
example models:
Wayfinder V2000 Digital Compass about $70
NexxTech™ Digital Compass with Calendar, Clock and Temperature about $30
Radio Shack 63-1221 Digital Vehicle Compass about $20
Custom Accessories 18100 about $10
Custom Accessories 55558 about $5
Type S Accessories AC12320606 Digital Compass about $40
Black Type S Compass about $5
Available at:
www.autoanything.com
www.circuitcity.com
www.radioshack.com
www.advanceautoparts.com
www.autobarn.com
>> Weather alert radio- Receives broadcasts from the National Weather Service.
The NWS provides weather forecasts and reports as well as announcements about
severe weather and any possible disasters. Choose a radio that uses the
vehicle's power so you don't have to replace batteries every time you turn
around.
example models:
ShareCom WRP50 Weather Radio about $70
Weather One Emergency Alert Portable Weather Radio about $35
Midland74109 All Hazards Weather Alert Radio about about $70
Midland 74-109 Weather Max Plus about $35
Midland 74200 All Hazard Alert Monitor about $50
Midland WR-10 Weather alert radio about $40
available at:
www.weatherradiostore.com
www.safetycentral.com
www.diversepower.com
www.midlandradio.com
www.amazon.com
>> Flashlight- Dozens of types available including windups that don't require
batteries, solar rechargeables, flourescent tube (bulbs last much longer), and
led models that will run many hours on one set of batteries.
example models:
Dorcey Coolblue led about $20
Himount Windup LED Flashlight about $20
available at:
www.batterysavers.com
www.jcwhitney.com
>> 4 point safety harness- Has four anchor points with a restraint for each
shoulder. These are more likely to get you through a crash with less injury
than if you had been using a standard belt (across one shoulder and across the
lap). Many of these models are made to attach to a roll bar, so make sure the
one you are getting is appropriate for your vehicle.
example models:
Peak Racing Equipment PEK-507-2 about $75
available from:
www.amazon.com
www.summitracing.com
>> Power inverter-Plugs into the cigarette lighter sockect, clips to battery,
or wire it in. The vehicle's 12 volts dc is changed to 120 volts ac to power
things like laptop computers, coffee makers, cell phones, camcorder battery
chargers and other small appliances. Don't go bigger than 400 watts unless you
want to go directly to the battery with heavy wire. Even then, high power
devices will drain your battery quickly and could fry the alternator if the
engine is running.
example models:
Coleman Powermate CMN-PMP400 400 watt about $60
Motor Trend power inverter HDL-MTI-12-3716 about $60
Xantrex X Power Mobile Plug 75 about $30
Go Power GP 175 Modified Sine Wave Inverter about $30
available at:
www.summitracing.com
www.fisheriessupply.com
store.hamiltonmarine.com
www.jcwhitney.com
Other accessories that can be used to enhance your car include seat covers,
floor mats, steering wheel covers, sun shades, head rest covers, litter bags,
can and cup holders, inside/outside thermometer, gps/map device, extra loud or
novelty sound horns.
Items to keep in your car for repair, emergency, safety, miscellaneous- Jack,
lug wrench, trouble light, flares, jumper cables, maps, cell phone and phone
numbers, coolant for radiator, drinking water, long storage food, empty
container for gasoline, various hand tools, gloves, coat, hat, blanket, rain
poncho, and a first aid kit.
About the author:
This article can be published in print or electronically, free of charge as
long as it is complete, unaltered and contains the
following author info and links (text only or active):
Alan Detwiler is the author of several books on leisure activities. The books
are available at Amazon.com
His web sites are www.leisureideas.com and www.makegizmos.com
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